Puyallup Tribe Buys Ruston Way Properties

TACOMA, WA — In an effort to diversify the Tribe's economic holdings, the Puyallup Tribe has announced that it has purchased two acres of land on Ruston Way in Tacoma. The purchase includes Ram Restaurant & Brewery and C.I. Shenanigans restaurant building on that property, both of which will remain standing for the foreseeable future.

The Tribe says the Ram restaurant will be leased back to its current owner, who plans to keep the brewery running. Shenanigans closed in 2020 during the pandemic, and the Tribe says it has no plans to reopen it currently, but will figure out some way to use the land.

“This is a deal that will benefit everyone involved,” Tribal Council said in a statement. “The Tribe will benefit by diversifying our economic base and generating revenue, and a popular restaurant will stay open.”

The Tribe says the purchase is a sign of the Puyallup Tribe's expanding role as a key part of the local economy. The Tribe now generates over $700 million each year, and employs 4,300 Pierce County residents, making it the county's fifth-largest employer.

But the purchase isn't just an economic decision, Puyallup leaders say it's part of the Tribe's long-term plans to re-establish its presence on the original Puyallup homelands — which includes the cities of Tacoma and Fife. In particular, the Tacoma waterfront near the Ruston Way property was historically used by the Puyallup people to fish for salmon, gather shellfish and canoe, the Tribe said in a press release.

The Puyallup Tribe says it intends to put the 2 acre parcel of land into trust sometime in the next few years, giving the title to the Secretary of the Interior who will hold it for the benefit of the Tribe.

Now that the purchase is secure, the Tribe says it is will work towards similar deals going forward. In his address at the 2020 Tribal Council swearing-in ceremony, Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud promised that economic development would be a top priority for the Tribe.

“Above all, we want partners who share our commitment to protect the environment and respect our heritage,” Chairman Sterud said. “Our Economic Development Team is actively looking for such partners who want to share and grow in our prosperity. We are ready.”